High drama on the Thames

High Drama on the Thames

Guys, it’s Easter Saturday, which means that at 1415hrs we will be witnessing the 158^th running of the Oxford/Cambridge boat race on the Thames.

OK, let’s get the basics out of the way.

The crowd was anticipated to be in excess of 300,000.

I haven’t the slightest doubt that this projection was on the conservative side.

Let’s get our pubs out of the way.

We had drinks in the following, all pubs being located on the river in Hammersmith.

Starting at 1210hrs (and bearing in mind the rowers were due to pass our position just to the left of Hammersmith Bridge at 1438hrs).

The Black Lion

The Dove

The Doom Bar

The Old City Arms

The Rutland Arms

The Dove (again, post race)

The Botanist in Sloane Square (we needed a roadie en route on the District line on the way home) 

The race itself was filled with high drama.

In deference to our good friend Dick Andrews who rowed for Cambridge whilst attending St Catharine’s College way back when, we were obviously routing for Cambridge.

So, here we were as the teams rowed neck and neck past us under the Hammersmith Bridge.

Then, about 200 metres further down the course some wacko with a political axe to grind proceeded to swim out into the path of the Oxford boat which forced the team to up oars (What a bloody prat!) The crowd on the bank wanted his guts for garters and he was only saved by a significant police presence.

To put this drama into perspective, according to commentators this is the first time in the entire 158th running of this race that there has been any form of interruption.

Heaps of drama and lots of very loud discussion from any number of Oxford/Cambridge old boys standing nearby.

No matter, there’s a thirty minute delay and they are up and off for a 1200 metre charge to the finish line.

Twenty seconds into this frenzied sprint there is a clash of oars and the Oxford team are left with seven effective rowers.

Cambridge then proceed to sprint away to glory.

As the Oxford team hit the finish line their lead oarsman passes out cold.

This poor chap is dragged onto a tender and immediately transferred to Charring Cross hospital (he survives to fight another day).

The Cambridge team were muted in victory.

And what of we, the Cambridge supporters, who had retired to the Dove for victory drinks?

Guys, we were in a state of alcohol-induced ecstasy.

And did we give those Oxford supporters heaps?

Yes we did.

I have a receipt that confirms that we had a drink at the Botanist in Sloane Square on the way home. Well, if that receipt says we were there, then I have to accept that we were.

What a great afternoon of high drama!